The funding was awarded ahead of World Rivers Day 2025, which is held annually on the fourth Sunday of September. The cash will help kickstart new river woodland creation and restoration projects. Ayrshire Rivers Trust will use the funding to explore opportunities to expand the native river woodland on the Water of Assel, one of the main tributaries of the River Stinchar. A river woodland development plan identifies the need for conservation intervention, as well as the current opportunities and barriers to implementation. Work on the development plans will start in October 2025 and is expected to be completed by March 2027.